Contributing:
Nick KappelMike
Trout served as the catalyst for last year's PG Minor League All-Star Team
much as he is for the Los Angeles Angels this year. That was the
second year in a row that Trout served as the leadoff hitter on this
postseason team recognizing the top performers and prospects from the
recently completed minor league season. Over the years young stars
such as Buster Posey, Jason Heyward, Madison Bumgarner and Jeremy
Hellickson have also graced the roster.
Not
surprising, nine of the 14 players named to the first team this year
were former first-round picks. One (Hamilton) was taken in the
second round, while another (Myers) was selected in the third. In
addition, five of the players on the first team were named their
respective organization's No. 1 prospects as part of Perfect Game's
team-by-team top prospect rankings last winter. The Astros, Marlins and Royals each have two players on the first team.(Be
sure to visit Perfect Game's Minor League pagefor access to
these lists as well as other minor league features).Similar
to past years, with the help of PG intern Nick Kappel (@NickKappel),
I have stacked up a team made up of players that have previously attended a Perfect Game event. There are nine hitters listed, one at each position as
well as a DH, in an order that easily could mirror a big-league
All-Star lineup in years to come.
The
starting staff has been expanded from three starters to four, and a
short-relief closer specialist has also been named.Starting
Lineup
SS
– Billy Hamilton (Reds)This
marks the second year in a row in which Hamilton has made PG's Minor
League All-Star Team, last year serving as the shortstop while
hitting ninth. Hamilton broke Vince Coleman's stolen base record
with 155 swipes, and improved his ability to get on base from a year
ago by reaching 41-percent of the time. He also hit .311 while
legging out 22 doubles and 14 triples between the Reds' advanced-A
and AA levels. Hamilton could find himself on this team once again a
year from now as he's expected to spend more of 2013 at the AAA
level, a quick phone call away from Cincinnati.
While
Hamilton was the one obvious no-brainers to make this team, Addison
Russell also received support for his impressive professional debut
after being drafted 11th overall last June.CF
– George Springer (Astros)Somewhat
of an unknown coming out of high school in Connecticut, Springer had
an impressive career at UConn, leading to him being taken 11th overall in last year's draft. After playing in only eight games
after signing last summer, he made a mark during his first full
professional season, playing most of the year at the Astros' high-A
affiliate in the California League. There Springer hit .316/.398/557
while showing his exciting blend of speed (28 stolen bases) and power
(18 doubles, 10 triples, 22 home runs). He didn't fare as well after
a late-season call-up to AA, but should continue to post strong
numbers at that level next year.LF
– Christian Yelich (Marlins)After
being named Perfect Game's No. 1 prospect in the Marlins system,
Yelich, the Marlins first-round pick in 2010, continued to progress
as a hitter in 2012. Spending almost the entire year at the team's
advanced A-ball affiliate in the Florida State League, Yelich hit
.330/.404/.519 in a league that favors pitching. A potential
five-tool talent, he also hit 29 doubles, five triples and 12 home
runs, with more power to come, while swiping 20 bases.RF
– Wil Myers (Royals)Myers
didn't have as strong of a season in 2011 after he was named to the
2010 PG Minor League All-Star team as a catcher. Now an outfielder,
he quickly picked up where he left off two years ago in posting one
of the most impressive seasons in the minors by hitting .314/.387/600
between the Royals' AA and AAA levels. Myers also hit 26 doubles and
37 home runs while driving in 109, and while the Royals have been
patient with his progression, it looks as though he has nothing left
to prove in the minors.
Outfield
was a tough field to choose from, as David Dahl, Joc Pederson, Kyle
Parker and Leon Landy were also considered.1B
– Hunter Morris (Brewers)Morris
was a PG/Aflac All-American in 2006, and turns 24 in early October,
but it doesn't appear as though he needs much more seasoning in the
minors before he makes an impact at the Major League level. He hit
.303/.357/.563 with an incredible 74 extra base hits (40 doubles, six
triples, 28 home runs) with 113 RBI on his way to being named the
Southern League MVP.
If
Anthony Rizzo, who made the team last year as a DH, or Chris Parmelee
had spent more time in the minors either one likely would have gotten
the nod over Morris. Jonathan Singleton, C.J. Cron and Daniel
Vogelbach also posted impressive power numbers this season.3B
– Miles Head (Athletics)Somewhat
of an overlooked piece to the package that sent Andrew Bailey and
Ryan Sweeney to the Red Sox, Head enjoyed a big year at the plate
between the high-A and AA levels in the A's system. He hit 22 home
runs between two levels in 2011, and 23 this year while hitting
.333/.391/.577. Head may be best suited at first base long-term, but
his impressive power production, and future potential, will make him
a fit at any position.
Choosing
the team's starting third baseman was far from a slam dunk, as Steven
Proscia, Nick Castellanos and Matt Skole also received strong
consideration.C
– Yasmani Grandal (Padres)Catcher
was the hardest position to choose from, but Grandal put up
impressive numbers (.323/.432/.502) despite playing in only 58 games
in the minors. He continued to hit the ball well in 48 games at the
big-league level with a .280/.384/.465 slash line, and looks to be
the team's backstop of the future. Grandal, the 12th overall pick in the 2010 draft, was one of the key cogs in the
prospect package the Padres received from the Reds for Mat Latos.
Fellow
former PG All-American Mike Zunino also posted big numbers in limited
playing time, showing no problems making the transition to pro ball.DH
– David Dahl (Rockies)As
the 10th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Dahl's impressive professional debut
made it impossible for him to be left off this team. He hit
.379/.423/.625 with 22 doubles, 10 triples and nine home runs on his
way to being named the Pioneer League's MVP. The Rockies have always
shown interest in dynamic, well-rounded athletes, and Dahl definitely
fits that mold, and as long as his production continues to match his
promise he may find himself roaming the outfield in Coors Field in
the next 2-3 years.2B
– Delino DeShields, Jr. (Astros)More
than a few eyebrows were raised when the Astros made DeShields the
eighth overall pick in the 2010 draft, and after a difficult 2011
season in which he hit .220, he bounced back this year with a
.287/.389/.428 line between two levels. He wasn't as productive
after a late season call-up to the high-A level, but overall swung
the bat well and proved to be a disturbance on the base-paths.
DeShields' 100 stolen bases will serve as the perfect bookend for
Hamiton's 155 swipes in this lineup.

Pitching
Staff
SP
– Jose Fernandez (Marlins)Fernandez,
like Hamilton and Myers, was one of the early locks to make this team
thanks to a 14-1 season spent between the Marlins' low- and high-A
affiliates. Teams may kick themselves in a few years, if they're not
already, as to how Fernandez fell to the 14th overall pick
with a large, sturdy frame and electric arm easily capable of
producing mid- to upper-90s mph heat. He also throws a dominant
breaking ball, leading to a 1.75 ERA in 25 starts this year,
including a 158-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 134 innings of work.SP
– Trevor Bauer (Diamondbacks)Most
expected Bauer to make a quick study of the minor leagues after an
impressive career at UCLA which led to him being taken third overall
by the Diamondbacks in the 2011 draft. He lived up to those
expectations, going 12-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 22 starts between the
D-Backs AA and AAA levels. Bauer also continued to show the easy
ability to miss bats, striking out 157 in 130 innings, although he
did walk 61 batters. He also made six starts from late June to
mid-July, and while he posted a 6.06 ERA during that time, Bauer
should be a fixture in Arizona's starting staff starting next April.SP
– Dylan Bundy (Orioles)After
the Orioles took Bundy with the fourth overall pick in the 2011
draft, he appeared to have no problems adjusting to life in pro ball,
soaring across three levels this summer prior to getting the late
season call up to Baltimore. Collectively he went 9-3 with a 2.08
ERA in the minors, striking out 119 and walking only 28 in over 103
innings of work. Bundy appears as though he'll be a fixture in the
Orioles starting staff for years to come, and will help the team
prove their success this season at the big-league level was far from
a fluke.SP
– Jake Odorizzi (Royals)While
Odorizzi was the youngest player included in the trade that sent Zack
Greinke to the Brewers, Odorizzi appears to be the most important,
and his progression may make Greinke's departure a distant memory in
the not-so-distant future. Like Bundy, Odorizzi is finishing the
season on the big-league staff with the Royals after going 15-5 with
a 3.03 ERA between the AA and AAA levels.
Starting
pitcher is the most difficult area to select from each and every
year, as we went four teams deep when deciding who should be among
the four-man rotation. Here are the other three staffs:Staff
2:
Gerrit Cole, Danny Hultzen, Zack Wheeler, Michael Foltynewicz.Staff
3:
Alex Meyer, Jesse Biddle, Archie Bradley, Justin Nicolino.Staff
4:
Matt Magill, B.J. Hermsen, Nicholas Tropeano, Seth Maness.CL
– Kevin Quackenbush (Padres)The
Padres eighth-round pick from the 2011 draft, Quackenbush was stingy
giving up runs during his first full professional season, posting a
0.94 ERA in the California League, a league that favors big offensive
performances. He saved 27 games in 52 relief appearances, striking
out 70 and allowing only 42 hits and 22 walks in 57.2 innings of
work.
Jason
Stoffel and Danny Barnes would form a fine set-up tandem after
posting 27 and 34 saves respectively.